Voting in 2024

Voting on Election Day

Lots of things can happen to prevent or delay you getting to the polls on Election Day, so make a plan to vote. Decide what time you’re going, who’s going to go with you, and how you’ll get there.

Make sure you have confirmed your polling place. There are often polling place changes for Election Day. Check for polling places at the county election office website.

You must have your photo ID with you. 

Polling places are open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. Anyone in line at 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

No campaign material or electioneering is allowed inside the polling place or within 500 feet of a polling place. This includes hats, buttons, shirts, etc. 

Also no weapons of any kind are permitted in the polling places.

Voters with disabilities

Voters with disabilities may receive assistance in voting. 

If you need assistance in voting, notify a poll manager. You can have someone help you cast your ballot so long as that person is not your employer, or an agent of your employer, or an officer of your union. 

Curbside voting is available to disabled voters who are unable to walk into the polling place. Election officials stress that curbside voting does not allow you to cut in front of others in line. At most polling places, there are designated parking places. Poll managers try to monitor those spaces and will bring a voting machine out to you. 

Election officials admit, however, that in peak times, or understaffed locations, monitoring the parking space may not always be possible. They suggest the driver come into the polling place and advise a poll manager. If there is a line, the last person in line will be given a flier that indicates a disabled person is next in line. 

Only the voter is allowed to be in the car during voting; and the driver is not permitted to use curbside voting unless they also qualify through age or disability, and are residents of the same precinct. If you are hearing impaired, poll managers have printed instructions.

If you are hearing impaired, poll managers have printed instructions. 

Congratulations, you’re registered to vote! This year, you have three options: Early Voting is available for two weeks prior to Election Day for all voters; voting on Election Day, or absentee voting by mail. 

Early Voting 

Early voting in the 2024 statewide primaries will be May 28 through June 7. Get more information and early voting locations. Election Day is June 11 with runoff elections, as needed, being held on June 25.

What if you don’t have photo ID?

If you forget your photo ID

You may vote a provisional ballot on Election Day, but you must go the county election office and show your photo ID prior to the official certification on the following Friday. If you do not do this, your provisional ballot will not be counted. 

If you can’t get a photo ID

There are legitimate reasons why you might not be able to get a photo ID. They are called “reasonable impediments,” which is any valid reason beyond your control that created an obstacle to obtaining a photo ID. 

Reasonable impediments include: 

  • A disability or illness

  • A conflict with your work schedule

  • A lack of transportation

  • A lack of birth certificate

  • Family responsibilities

  • A religious objection to being photographed

  • Any other obstacle you find reasonable. 

If you could not get a photo ID, bring your non-photo voter registration card to the polling place. You may vote a provisional ballot after signing an affidavit stating you have a reasonable impediment to obtaining a photo ID.

Absentee Voting

Absentee voting allows qualified voters to cast a ballot by mail prior to Election Day. In-person Absentee voting is no longer available because it was replaced by Early Voting.

The rules for voting absentee have changed significantly since legislation passed in May 2022. The League of Women Voters of South Carolina advises that voters who are capable of voting either during Early Voting or on Election Day should choose one of those ways to vote. There are too many potential pitfalls that could result in an absentee ballot being disqualified. There are many reasons that absentee ballots can be disqualified and you may not even know that your vote was rejected.

Eligibility requirements: 

  • Workers whose job prevents them from getting to the polls in person.

  • Caregivers.

  • Prisoners awaiting trial

  • Voters who will be out of town.

  • Voters with physical disabilities.

  • Voters 65 or older

  • Military members and their families.

  • Patients admitted to the hospital as an emergency patient on the day of the election or within a 4-day period before the election.

The application

Before you can get an absentee ballot, you must file an application to receive one. You can request that by calling the election office at 864-467-7264 or visiting the office in person.

You must provide your name, date of birth, and last four of your SSN. You can request an application for no more than five other individuals, but there are new requirements for requesting and returning ballots as an authorized representative. 

When you receive the application, you can return it by mail or by taking it directly to the county election office. The application must be received no later than 5 p.m. on October 27. That is very last minute and election officials advise getting your application in well ahead of these deadlines.

The ballot

Once you have received and completed your ballot, place it in the enclosed envelope marked “Ballot Here-In.” Then place that envelope in the return envelope. 

You must sign the voter’s oath and have your signature witnessed. The witness can be anyone at least 18, and they must print their name and address on the return envelope. 

You can return the ballot by mail or take it to the Election Commission office. You must present a photo ID when returning absentee ballots. 

Completed absentee ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on November 5. For overseas and military voters, mail ballots must be returned by 5 p.m. on November 7.